A preacher has written a fundraising book in memory of his murdered friend.

Bob Brunger, 67, of Skelton, has spent five years researching The Miracle of Jesus, which chronicles the life of Jesus from the perspective of him living as a normal man.

The retired British Steel metallurgist, who has spent the past 40 years preaching, pledged a donation from each sale of the book to research into multiple sclerosis.

Mr Brunger, a voluntary lay preacher with the Methodist Church, made the pledge in memory of his 62-year-old friend Robert Carter, who was known as Jack.

Jack, who had MS, was murdered in his New Marske home last year. Keith Jones, 33, was convicted of murder and jailed for life in May at Teesside Crown Court.

Mr Brunger said: "I knew Jack from school. Then, when I was working as a metallurgist, Jack joined us and we began working on the same site. He developed MS and eventually he took early retirement, but a group of us would meet socially at the Mermaid pub in Marske.

"We got talking about religion, Jesus and miracles, which led to the idea of writing the book."

Mr Brunger added: "Jack gave me tremendous help and a purpose in writing.

"After he died, I made two decisions - to get this book published in memory of him and that however many were sold, I would give a donation to MS research."

* Copies of the £9.99 book are available from bookshops in Guisborough and Yarm or by calling 01287 650711.